Following news earlier today that Coldplay were to give away their new single, in a move comparable to that Radiohead thing of last year, now word reaches DiS - via Wired's blog network - that Metallica are considering dishing out the rock for nowt.

With only one album remaining on their deal with Warner Music Group, the four-piece might well deliver a digital release a la the aforementioned and Nine Inch Nails. Wasn't this the band that said terrible things about Napster way back when?

Anyway, speaking to Rolling Stone drummer Lars Ulrich - it's always the not-so quiet ones - commented:

"You know, this is our last record under contract with Warner, so we're looking at how we can embrace everything.

"We've been observing Radiohead and Trent Reznor and in 27 years or however long it takes for the next record, we'll be looking forward to everything in terms of possibilities with the internet."

Great, good, we're pleased. And now we're going home, to go to sleep...